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Registered nurse Amy Garrett delivers the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine to Jaleesa Davis, who is 12 months old, as her mother, Brandie Davis, holds Jaleesa at OSF HealthCare Medical Group-Pediatrics on Tuesday, May 21, 2019, in Bloomington. Davis said she wanted her daughter protected from measles and other diseases.

Registered nurse Amy Garrett delivers the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine to Jaleesa Davis, who is 12 months old, as her mother, Brandie Davis, holds Jaleesa at OSF HealthCare Medical Group-Pediatrics on Tuesday, May 21, 2019, in Bloomington. Davis said she wanted her daughter protected from measles and other diseases.

BLOOMINGTON — As Jaleesa Davis waited Tuesday for her one-year well-baby checkup and vaccinations — including the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine — her Bloomington parents were matter-of-fact about why she was getting her shots.

"To help protect her from these diseases," said her mother, Brandie Davis, 32; her husband, Joshua, 28, agreed.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that children get one dose of the MMR vaccine at 12 to 15 months old and a second dose at 4 to 6 years old. Both are required by the state of Illinois before a child enters kindergarten.

Before, some parents waited until their child was about to begin kindergarten before agreeing to their child's second MMR dose, said Dr. Samina Yousuf, pediatrician with OSF HealthCare Medical Group, and Dr. Aaron Traeger, pediatrician with Advocate Children's Medical Group, both in Bloomington.

"Now, a lot of them are saying they want to get it done at age 4," Traeger said.

"In my own practice (in recent weeks), there has been much more discussion of vaccinations and a push (by parents) to have it done as soon as recommended," said Yousuf. "More people want to have it done at 4 years old rather than 6. I love that."

In April, Advocate Children's Medical Group began contacting parents whose children are not fully vaccinated and encouraging them to immediately all their pediatrician.

"They've said, 'Thank you for protecting us,'" Traeger said.

CDC reported Tuesday that there have been 880 measles cases nationwide since Jan. 1 — the highest number since 1994.

Statewide, there have been eight confirmed measles cases so far this year in Champaign, Cook and DeKalb counties, said Melaney Arnold of the Illinois Department of Public Health. There have been no measles' deaths.

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"It's really pretty alarming that we have the highest number of measles cases since 1994," Yousuf said.

In 1989-90, there were 55,000 measles cases in the United States and 123 deaths, Yousuf said. Most of the cases involved people who weren't vaccinated or had only one dose, Yousuf said. For that reason, two doses have been recommended since 1989 and the disease was declared virtually eliminated in the United States in 2000, she noted.

But measles outbreaks in pockets of the country where people haven't been vaccinated have health officials worried. Some people have pointed to a study from several years ago that drew a link between the MMR vaccine and autism, but that paper has been debunked, Traeger and Yousuf said.

"Parents need to make sure their children are up to date on their vaccines," added Carol Carlton, Macon County Health Department director of clinical nursing services.

"Getting those two MMRs are important," she added. "People not getting their children vaccinated are putting their children at risk."

"At the health department, our mission is to keep communities safe and healthy and vaccines are a major way to keep communities safe and our children healthy," said Mara Hildebrand, Coles County Health Department director of nursing.

Measles symptoms

Measles symptoms include a rash at the hair line that spreads down the body, high fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, red and watery eyes and spots in the mouth.

Measles happen to people exposed to the virus and who are not sufficiently protected by vaccination. In rare cases, serious complications can happen, such as pneumonia.

If you suspect measles in your child, call your health care provider first before bringing the child in. The child would be tested away from other patients to reduce the spread if the child has the disease.

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(3) comments

These vaccinations may give your child irritability and a low fever for a couple of days but the benefits are really good. I raised four children and they all got their shots on age. Please protect your children. This is a good thing you can do for them.

This fear of vaccines has got to be overcome. People need to stop believing quackery and pseudoscience. Everything is not a conspiracy, you are not some wise, enlightened person among everyone else being scammed. This is about our children's health and the health of our entire nation, and yes, with so much air travel, even the world. Unless your child has a medical need for opting out, vaccinate your kids and work with your pediatrician. They went to medical school, you probably did not.

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